The bad is they are seemingly in a downward spiral, heading for the Championship.

A point at home makes it even worse for boss Mark Hughes, who is already under threat after just one win in seven since taking over from Neil Warnock.

Hoops chairman Tony Fernandes went to local pubs before the game to canvas opinion on what fans thought of their decline since he sacked Warno.

It would not have made good listening for Hughes. Warnock had led QPR to the Promised Land – at the moment they are in No-Man’s Land.

Despite virtually laying siege in Everton’s half in the closing minutes, they could not find a magic formula to make the breakthrough.

The Londoners fought back from a goal down but the biggest highlight for their troubled fans was watching a squirrel prance across the pitch and singing, ‘We’re only here for the squirrel’.

Otherwise it was lots of action, plenty of aggression but little end product, although striker Bobby Zamora worked intelligently in attack and Joey Barton was a grafter.

The home side have had three players sent off in three recent home games – and five overall. One more and they would have created a Premier League record.

They kept their discipline yesterday but wasted countless chances to step away from the relegation mire.

Hughes said: “For once we finished with 11 men, we showed discipline and my message is getting across. We were unlucky. Although we only got one point, I think we showed enough to get out of trouble.

“We can build on this. I am confident of the future.”

But this was definitely a chance missed. And big time.

Everton have been fragile on the road, winning only once away since New Year’s Day.

And they also had to rely yesterday on the cool, experienced head of Phil Neville, who when not blocking attacks was ensuring Marouane Fellaini stayed clear of trouble.

Referee Kevin Friend pulled him into a huddle and warned him if he did not curb Fellaini’s enthusiasm then he would.

Tim Cahill rattled the QPR bar with a ferocious snap-shot after just three minutes, giving notice it was going to be a hard journey for Hughes’ struggling team, who now have only 11 games to save their season.

But Everton’s early weakness was giving the ball away in decent positions and they were thankful QPR did not punish errors.

Tim Howard came to their rescue when he dived to his right to palm away a fierce, 18-yard free-kick from Akos Buzsaky in the 21st minute.

The hosts were breaking well, particularly through Adel Taarabt, while Zamora never allowed Everton’s defence to settle.

But the Toffees were threatening too, with little one-twos, deft running and speed of thought always making them dangerous,

And so it proved in the 31st minute when Steven Pienaar robbed Shaun Derry, Fellaini pushed inside to Royston Drenthe, on loan from Real Madrid, fired home a 25-yard cracker to give them the lead.

Drenthe blotted his copybook four minutes later when he brought down Taarabt which earned him a booking.

From Buzsaky’s resulting free-kick, Zamora headed home the equaliser.

Then almost on the half-time whistle, QPR blew a great chance to take the lead when Taarabt struck a post with a 20-yard shot and Zamora played the rebound into Buzsaky, who somehow turned his shot on to the other post from just five yards while the goal was gaping.

The Hoops continued to attack in the second half but continued to waste possession, while Everton waited for the wayward pass and counter-attacked.

It kept the QPR fans on a knife-edge and unfortunately that is where they are going to stay in the coming weeks.

Moyes, who celebrates ten years as Everton boss on March 14, said: “This was tough. Rangers are fighting for survival and their pitch doesn’t help them, so I was pleased.”